動物の求愛場
解説 Definition
鳥などの動物がオスが集まってメスの前で求愛のディスプレイを行う場所。
A lek is a traditional gathering place where males of certain animal species, especially birds, assemble to perform courtship displays while females observe them and select mates. The word can also refer to this mating system or gathering itself.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
lek は、鳥などの雄が毎年集まり、雌に求愛ディスプレイを見せる「場所」と、そこで行われる集団求愛の仕組みを表す生態学用語。スウェーデン語で「遊び」を表す語から来たと押さえ、gather at a lek、visit the lek のように、集会場を示す at・visit と結び付けて覚える。関連する動詞は lek、行動名は lekking。
Picture male birds gathering at the same open display ground each spring while females visit, watch, and choose a mate. That ground is a lek. Learn it through the common patterns gather at a lek, visit a lek, and display on a lek. The word entered English from Swedish lek, meaning “play,” which suits the conspicuous performances, although the displays serve the serious purpose of mating. The related verb lek describes taking part in such courtship, and lekking names the behavior or mating system.
例文
Every spring, male sage grouse gather at the lek to perform elaborate courtship displays.
毎年春、オスのセージグラウスは求愛場に集まり、精巧な求愛のディスプレイを行う。
The researchers set up cameras near the lek to record the mating behavior of the birds.
研究者たちは鳥の交尾行動を記録するために求愛場の近くにカメラを設置した。
Female birds visit the lek to observe the males and choose the most impressive performer as a mate.
メスの鳥は求愛場を訪れてオスを観察し、最も印象的なパフォーマーを相手として選ぶ。
lek の類義語・関連語
類義語
派生語
紛らわしい語
lek の語源・成り立ち Etymology
スウェーデン語 lek「遊び、戯れ」に由来。鳥類（ライチョウなど）の雄が集まって求愛ディスプレイを行う場所を指す。英語には19世紀に生態学用語として借入された。同根のスウェーデン語 leka（遊ぶ）は英語 play に相当。関連語：lekking（求愛行動）。
English borrowed lek in the nineteenth century from Swedish lek, meaning “play” or “sport.” It became a technical term in zoology for the communal courtship grounds used by such birds as grouse, and later for the mating system associated with them. Swedish leka, “to play,” belongs to the same word family. English subsequently formed lekking for the activity and lekking ground for its location.
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